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How to Use SORTED
Go to the Introduction from the LSC
SORTED has been prepared to provide guidance through which practitioners within the FE system will be able to take steps towards meeting all of these objectives, by initiating a range of actions that will achieve simultaneous progress towards these economic, social and environmental goals.
The key over-arching challenges relating to implementing sustainable development can be summarised below:
SORTED aims to provide information and guidance to help FE practitioners to address these challenges. SORTED contains four main sections, each of which has been prepared to address the different aspects of implementing sustainable development within the FE system.
The information provided through this website is drawn from a very wide range of material that is already available about sustainable development, particularly from where it is directly relevant to the learning and skills sector.
The component parts of SORTED should not be read in isolation. Sustainable development is a complex, interrelated topic and as such, the four parts of SORTED have many synergies. It is recommended that sustainable development is integrated within your organisation through joining up all of these topic areas and addressing them at the same time. The following key principles are included throughout each of the four topics as these are considered to be critical to the success of embedding sustainable development within your organisation:
The sections of SORTED align with the priorities contained within the LSC strategy for sustainable development: ‘From Here to Sustainability’ published in 2005:
This section aligns with key area of Positioning the Sector in the LSC Strategy for Sustainable Development, recognising that the sector will not be able to position itself as a strong contributor to sustainable development without effective leadership and management of sustainable development. The section identifies essential processes to implement sustainability practices within the FE system.
This section contains advice and support on how to implement sustainable development in buildings and estates within the FE system. It is the largest section due to the sheer volume of information available and the breadth of the sub topics.
This section aligns to the key area of Curriculum in the LSC strategy for sustainable development, recognising that embedding sustainable development means looking at the context and delivery of learning opportunities as well as specific curriculum development.
This section describes how the FE system can initiate and implement actions to create more sustainable communities. It discusses the drivers for implementing sustainable development at community and business level, and identifies the many and varied constraints that may affect any organisation’s ability to operate at the highest standards of sustainable development.
SORTED has been prepared to provide guidance through which practitioners within the FE system will be able to take steps towards meeting all of these objectives, by initiating a range of actions that will achieve simultaneous progress towards these economic, social and environmental goals.
The key over-arching challenges relating to implementing sustainable development can be summarised below:
- Where are we now?
- What activities are key?
- What resources are needed?
- What outcomes can be expected?
- Who needs to be involved?
- What guidance is available?
- What reporting is needed?
- What is going on elsewhere in the FE system?
SORTED aims to provide information and guidance to help FE practitioners to address these challenges. SORTED contains four main sections, each of which has been prepared to address the different aspects of implementing sustainable development within the FE system.
The information provided through this website is drawn from a very wide range of material that is already available about sustainable development, particularly from where it is directly relevant to the learning and skills sector.
Top Tips
The component parts of SORTED should not be read in isolation. Sustainable development is a complex, interrelated topic and as such, the four parts of SORTED have many synergies. It is recommended that sustainable development is integrated within your organisation through joining up all of these topic areas and addressing them at the same time. The following key principles are included throughout each of the four topics as these are considered to be critical to the success of embedding sustainable development within your organisation:
- Gain senior level commitment. Sustainable development needs to be at the top of the agenda for it to be successful. It needs to be incorporated into strategic plans with resources and targets and have buy in from senior managers.
- Involve others, for example by setting up a sustainable development working group. Clear and identifiable sustainable development champions from a selection of internal and external stakeholders will ensure that the work remains fit for purpose and maintains momentum.
- Assess the sustainable development baseline. You will need to know what you and your stakeholders are currently doing in each of the four topic areas in SORTED to understand where you are now and where you need and want to be in your sustainable development journey.
- Engage all stakeholders. Effective dissemination and communication will be key. The work needs to be appropriate to the needs of your stakeholders; whether this is learners; staff; employers or people living nearby.
- Ensure behavioural and cultural change. The tools are given in this guidance to help make positive changes in terms of sustainable development. Without a behavioural shift, this will not be achievable. All stakeholders need to understand how their behaviour has an impact and why they need to change.
Finding your way around SORTED
The sections of SORTED align with the priorities contained within the LSC strategy for sustainable development: ‘From Here to Sustainability’ published in 2005:
Leadership and Management
This section aligns with key area of Positioning the Sector in the LSC Strategy for Sustainable Development, recognising that the sector will not be able to position itself as a strong contributor to sustainable development without effective leadership and management of sustainable development. The section identifies essential processes to implement sustainability practices within the FE system.
Buildings and Estates
This section contains advice and support on how to implement sustainable development in buildings and estates within the FE system. It is the largest section due to the sheer volume of information available and the breadth of the sub topics.
Teaching and Learning
This section aligns to the key area of Curriculum in the LSC strategy for sustainable development, recognising that embedding sustainable development means looking at the context and delivery of learning opportunities as well as specific curriculum development.
Community and Business
This section describes how the FE system can initiate and implement actions to create more sustainable communities. It discusses the drivers for implementing sustainable development at community and business level, and identifies the many and varied constraints that may affect any organisation’s ability to operate at the highest standards of sustainable development.
